IMO President claims pay agreement does not address health crisis

The President of the IMO, Dr Ray Walley, said the Government still refuses to address the fundamental principle of equal pay for equal work.

The Council of the Irish Medical Organisation voted unanimously to recommend that its members reject the Lansdowne Road Agreement on public sector pay restoration.

The agreement will see public servants receive a €2,000 pay increase over two years.

Dr Walley said that the agreement does not address the crisis in our health service and the 300 consultant vacancies.

He also said that medical professionals in this country are disillusioned;

"We're all arriving at work and working long hours … many [doctors] are fed up of working with the HSE, [of] working in the health service.

"That's the single biggest reason … [it's] an employer that is breaking rules, and breaking agreements … this is just another straw to break the camel's back."